Hi! My name is Stefanie Atherton. I am involved with the OWC mostly as
a result of peer pressure! I am completely committed to the physical
challenge. But climbing to 13,770 feet and spending the night outside
on the mountain are way outside of my box!! Hope they have a nice
bathroom up there. Lame, I know.
I spend my days as a Personal Trainer and Group Exercise Instructor at
St. John Health Club. I am married with two children: Jack, age 9 and Josie, age
8. I enjoy running, tennis and the creature comforts of home!! I
cannot wait to conquer the Grand Teton and am thrilled to help support
the Tulsa Zoo.
- Stefanie Atherton
Brett Baker
Brett is the COO and part owner of Part-Time Pros, a Tulsa Firefighter, a husband and a Dad. He loves to be physically challenged and has proved this in the past by completing 2 marathons, several adventure races, a 100 mile bicycle race, many Tulsa Runs and lots of shorter running races. He has had some climbing experience but nothing like the experience he will get when he goes for the top of the 13,000 + foot summit of Grand Teton. He is passionate about his family and his community. Some of his current community activities include Leadership Tulsa Class of 42, Committee of 100, Board member of The Day Center for the Homeless, Holland Hall Alumni Board and Citizens Crime Commission. Even though the climb will be challenging it will not be as challenging as raising his goal of up to $10,000 for the Tulsa Zoo and the Nature Exchange. Please support Brett by donating a tax deductible gift made payable to the Tulsa Zoo! Thank you for your support!
- Brett Baker
Elizabeth Frame Ellison, Esq.
2009 was a big year for me: I graduated from law school, married a great guy, moved back to Tulsa, purchased a home, took the bar exam, passed the bar exam and started working! I serve as Executive Director of my family's foundation and I love spending every day figuring out how to help Tulsans in need. My proudest accomplishment is finishing the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in 2008, and now that life has settled down a little, I'm ready for another physical challenge! I can't think of a better way to challenge myself than the One Wild Challenge, and it's even better since my participation helps one of my favorite places in Tulsa--The Zoo!
- Elizabeth Frame Ellison, Esq.
Terrell Hoagland
I am with Flintco, Inc. as their recently appointed Director of Sustainable Projects with the goal of promoting Green Building and instituting sustainable business practices company wide. Having been a lifetime environmentalist and being active with wilderness preservation for years this program had immediate appeal to me. I am an avid backcountry skier and Ultimate Frisbee player competing on a national level. The ability to increase awareness of the environment and our effect on it is another great aspect of One Wild Challenge. The educational and conservation programs that our world renown Tulsa Zoo are involved in are truly priceless.
- Terrell Hoagland
Philip and Shai Kaiser
Shai Kaiser: I am 13 years old and attend Undercroft Montessori School as
a 7th grader. I was born in Jerusalem, Israel and moved to Tulsa at age 5.
I am an experienced climber and have participated in climbing trips in
Oklahoma, Northwestern Wisconsin and Northern Minnesota. I enjoy skiing,
skateboarding, bike riding, swimming and ice cream, and also the Tulsa Zoo.
Philip Kaiser: I am Shai's father and I own and run Cosmo Cafe in Tulsa
with my wife Miranda (Shai's mother.) I also enjoy skiing, biking, swimming
(yes, and ice cream.) I have not as yet climbed any mountains but I have
run up quite a few hills.
We both look forward to climbing the Grand Tetons with the team and
supporting the Zoo!
- Philip and Shai Kaiser
Phil Lakin
Hands down, climbs with OWC have been my most fun, challenging, and rewarding. The friendships I've made are life-long, and the personal experiences, life-changing. Really, what could be any better than summiting a rugged mountain on a beautiful morning, with great friends, all while raising money for educational programs at our Tulsa Zoo?
- Phil Lakin
Peter McGraw
It's a trek that certainly lives up to its name. 2010's One Wild Challenge 5 is the gathering of adventure seekers working together to climb the summit of Wyoming's Grand Teton (13,770 feet) for a worthy cause. As a former wilderness guide and current member of the Tulsa Zoo Friends board, Peter McGraw is both proud and excited to be a part of such an incredible event. Last year, the climb up Mt. Rainier raised more than $50,000 for the Tulsa Zoo. This year the climbers hope to earn even more, with all proceeds going towards making a difference in the lives of our children by supporting Tulsa Zoo`s Nature Exchange Program. Peter is one of 14 people who will climb The Grand in August. As a Tulsa native and leading real estate professional, nothing is more important to him than giving back to the community. And, he's motivated to do everything he can (including scaling one of America's tallest peaks on his 4th One Wild Challenge) to raise money for a cause he's very passionate about. To contribute to this year's One Wild Challenge, call Peter McGraw today at (918) 852-7180 or visit www.OneWildChallenge.com! After all, how can you say no to the COOKIE MONSTERS!
- Peter McGraw
Molly Pellegrini
Mother of 4 great kids ages 1, 5, 6 and 9, wife and community volunteer, including serving on the board of Tulsa Zoo Friends. I enjoy all aspects of fitness, including running and tennis. I love the outdoors and hiking and consider joining One Wild Challenge to be an active learning experience, which I think are the best kind! I enjoy being involved with my children's school, Monte Cassino. I think my number one priority is to be a teacher and role model for my kids through acts of service and continuing to challenge myself physically and mentally. I am so fortunate to have an amazing support system in my husband and family. I have lived in Tulsa for 25+ years and am still learning about all the great things our community has and the Tulsa Zoo is on the top of that list!
- Molly Pellegrini
Dave Pounds
The only thing more rewarding than being wowed by nature is watching someone you love awestruck by the same. As a part-time adventurer and full-time husband and dad, my introducing our family into nature is one of my favorite and most rewarding activities. The camaraderie and overall experience I had as part of One Wild Challenge IV has made this year's challenge even more enticing. Raising funds for the Nature Exchange as part of the One Wild Challenge Team helps introduce people to responsibly enjoy nature and creates a challenge that lets me be awestruck by nature all over again. Go team!
- Dave Pounds
Chad Smith
Chad Smith is a member of the elite Ninja Frog team. Government restrictions prohibit further information from be published about Col. Smith.
- Chad Smith
Bob Thomas
The grandeur of the Tetons is unsurpassed in the lower forty-eight.
This is partly explained by the fact that these mountains are observed
from a beautiful valley unencumbered by "foot hills'. Though The Grand
is a mere 13,770 feet in altitude we enjoy a 7,500 vertical foot visual
of this magnificent mountain.
One Wild Challenge allows me the opportunity to extend way beyond my
comfort zone. Ascending the 7,500 vertical feet requires that my
physical shape, measured by age, is sharply lower than my reality age.
So from a keep-in shape-perspective, it's a great personal goal and
motivator.
But, One Wild Challenge is way beyond just personal. The opportunity to
be connected to One Wild Challenge beginning two years ago has greatly
enhanced my respect for Tulsa Zoo and its programs and vision that add
so much to the vitality of the Tulsa area community. My direct
involvement in climbing the Grand is as much motivated by my respect for
Tulsa Zoo and its leader, Keegan Young, as it is a personal challenge.
I love opportunities like this. Support Tulsa Zoo while doing something
exceptional.
- Bob Thomas
Jeff Wilkie
My reasons for joining this challenge are simple...raise funds for an
extraordinary organization while preparing myself for a significant
undertaking when I turn 40!!!
- Jeff Wilkie
Keegan Young
When we put the One Wild Challenge program together its mission was to raise funding and awareness for your zoo. It was not long after our first team gathered on OWC 1 that I realized we had something much more unique, much more special on our hands. One Wild Challenge draws strong, adventurous spirits together around a common purpose. Those that choose to participate are already mountaineers in spirit, if not in experience. Some of my closest friends today are thanks to relationships built at the end of a rope on One Wild Challenge. I love America's Favorite Zoo, the Nature Exchange and of course, One Wild Challenge. I hope you will join us, be it in person or through a gift in support of those willing to dangle from a rope in hopes of building a better zoo for our community.
- Keegan Young
